Machine for circulating clean, deodorized, and sterilized air



July 23, 1940. o. M. DOUD ET AL MACHINE FOR CIRCULATING CLEAN, DEODORIZED, AND STERILIZED AIR Filed March 31, 1938 Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 01m M. Bond and Ruth v. out, Nowell, 8. our; Application March 31, 1938, Serial No. 199370 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for circulating clean, deodorlzed air through a given area, and its object is to provide means for so localizin and directing a fiow of air of this sort that high- 1y aseptic and protective conditions may be maintained over limited areas in which various. operations, such as surgical operations, dental work, barbering, manicuring, eye, ear, nose and throat treatments, and the like are being carried-out.

Not only does the device of the present invention aid in maintaining aseptic conditions and preventing contamination, but it eliminates body odors from both the operator and the subject, either those from the breath; proceeding from the .respiratory and digestive tracts; or any other body odors, such-as the odor of perspiration and the like. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which iollows.

go In the accompanying drawing, wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section or a machine constructed in accordg ance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view upon line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detailed front view oithe outlet end of the discharge tube hereinafter described; a Fig. 4 is a detailed view of a perforate air conditioning member hereinafter described, and Fig. 5 is a detailed view of thefine screen located at the entrance end of the air conditioning casing.

a In the drawing, 5 designates a control and treatment casing that is suspended from a telescopic rod 6 from a ceiling or other support, indicated at C. A ball and socket joint I, at the lower end of the telescopic rod, renders it possible a to swingthe casing 5 to varying angles and in-.

clinations. A fan motor 8, within the casing, actuates the .fans 9, which propel air through the casing in the direction indicated by the arrow.

The air is discharged through a discharge tube 3 III which is downwardly and inwardly curved and terminates in a mouth of preferablyoval formation, indicated at H. The tube It may have a flexible section ii in its length to adapt the mouth to be capable oi! a local deflection ,or twistin 50 action.

The air discharged from the tube IS in the form of a semi-sheet travels across the zone x-x, which is the zone to be protected, and the air is drawn into a funnel ll, which constitutes the mouth of the intake air tube M. A screen or filter l5 spans the mouth IS. The mouth l3 may also be connected with its tube l4 through the medium. of a flexible section l6, so that the mouth may be capable of a localized flexing or twisting action. "6

The tubes "land I! are connected to the casing 5 by ball and socket joints indicated at H. The months I l and I 3 of the tubes may be moved toward and from each other upon these ball and socket connections by any desired means. One 1 such means consists of a pair or links I 8, the outer ends of which are pivotally connected at l9 to ears upon the tubes and the inner ends of which are provided with racks 2i which mesh with a pinion. Thus, movement of one tube is 15 translated into a corresponding'moveme'nt of the other tube, and the mouths of the tubes may be adjusted toward or from each other.

The motor 8 is supported upon standards 23, said standards in turn being-engaged in blocks 2:

of rubber 24, upon the inside of the casing 5. If

desired, the conducting wire from the motor 8, indicated at 25, may be led downwardly through a the telescopic tube, the ball of the ball and socket joint I, and the uppermost standard 23. A fine screen or filter 26 spans the casing 5 between the point of entrance of the air and the adjacent fan 9. A second screen or filter 21 spans the casing! between the other fan and the en.- trance to the outlet tube l0. 30

The filter 21 may vary widely in its nature. It may consist of a body oi! simple filtering material such as that so widely used in air conditioning systems, or it may consist of a body of deodorizing material such asactivated charcoal, or it'may consist of a body of asepticizing material such as any of the numerous and well known antiseptic and germicidal materials upon the market.

The casing 5 is preferably made in two halves o 5', 5, connected by hinges 28 for convenience of access to the parts within the casing. After the two halves of the casing are shut together and the sockets 5* of the ball and socket joint I! are closed upon the ball-like ends of the tubes l0 and 5 i4, collm 30 are screwed upon the neck-like extensions 3l of the casing, and this holds the casing closed. The female member i of the ball and socket joint I is carried wholly by the rear half of the casing section in such manner as not to interfere with the opening of the front hall of the casing upon the hinges 7 It is clear that by virtue of the arrangement described, a powerful flow of air may be maintained through the zone xx. The air flow may be controlled as to strength by control of the fan speed in the common way. We are, of

course, aware oi the fact that it is common prac-' tice to filter the air delivered through air, conditioning systems to operating rooms. However, more than this is needed "to accomplish the objects that we seek ,,,to accomplish. The mere delivery oi! conditioned air to an operating room rect the flow of air that all of the air moved by the fans is delivered through such a restricted zone that within that zone the velocity of the air is such that the objects herein recited are accomplished in a, way in which they have never before been accomplished.

Without restricting ourselves to any particular field of use for this device, we may point out that in dentistry our arrangement prevents the inhaling by the operatorof various types of dust created by difierent procedures of the anterior grinding of teeth with abrasives; polishing gold fittings; grinding of dentures,etc. In barbering, our arrangement'prevents the inhaling of foreign particles such as hair and the like. When used in conjunction with a manicurists table, it prevents the inhaling of foreign particles such as sand, dust, filings, etc. The apparatus is also 01' great utility in the treatment rooms of undertakers. ,e

Over the surgical .operating table, it prevents body odors or the breath of the patient, the attendants or the surgeons from contacting any other person. Thus, it aids in the prevention of the spreading of contagious diseases of any nature and especially diseases of the respiratory system- Further, the flow of air aids in elimihating the danger of small foreign particles dropping into the operative field, and thereby enables the surgeon to work more freely.

The term conditioning, as used in the accompanying claims, is to be construed broadly to mean any treatment of air to filter it, to deodorize it, to asepticize it, or otherwise.

It'is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement set forth, but that itincludes within its purview such changes as fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described our invention, .what we claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a casing having a fan located therein, a

pair of curved tubes extending from the opposite ends of said casing and connected thereto by ball and socket joints, a pair of links, the outer ends of which are pivotally connected to said tubesadjacent the ball and socket joints, overlapping racks carried by the inner ends of said links, a pinion with which both of said racks mesh, an

-air propelling fan within the casing, and a pair of confronting mouths upon said tubes, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A device of the character described comprising a casing having a fan located therein, disposed to propel air lengthwise through said casing, a pair of tubes extending from the opposite ends of said casing and curved to direct toward each other or force the mouths of the tubes away from each other.

3. A structure as recited in claim 2,in combination with means for supporting said casing from its top central portion by a universal joint to thereby permit bodily twisting movement of said casing in all directions.

OLIVE M. DOUD. RUTH v. o'rro. 

